Big Cat Count Rises In India, But Little Cheer For Odisha

New Delhi: Here’s good news for wildlife enthusiasts. A study released on Monday has put the tiger population in the country at 2,967, which is a 33 per cent jump in the last four years.

However, there is not much to cheer for Odisha, as the number of tigers in the state has remained static since the 2014 tiger census.

According to the All India Tiger Estimation 2018 report, released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an estimated 28 big cats are roaming in Similipal and Satakosia tiger reserves of the state.

In 2006, 45 tigers were found in Odisha, but the number had come down to 32 in 2010. It further plummeted to 28 in 2014. The report, in particular, highlighted that tigers of Odisha and North East Hills remain “critically vulnerable” and need immediate conservation attention.

Releasing the report, the PM said India’s efforts to double the tiger population by 2022 has been met four years in advance, largely due to conservation efforts initiated across the tiger reserves.

In 2006, the tiger population in India was only 1,411 and concerns kept mounting about the eventual depletion of tigers across the country. Subsequently, the number rose to 1,706 in 2010 and 2,226 in 2014.

State-Wise Tiger Population:
Bihar — 31
Uttarakhand — 442
Uttar Pradesh — 173
Andhra Pradesh — 48
Telangana — 26
Chhattisgarh — 19
Madhya Pradesh — 526
Maharashtra — 312
Rajasthan — 69
Karnataka — 524
Karela- 190
Tamil Nadu — 264
Arunachal Pradesh — 29
West Bengal (Sundarbans) — 88